Rising obesity among Indian women underscores need for preconception interventions

Nearly one in three Indian women aged 15-49 years is now overweight or obese, up from one in four women five years ago, according to data released by the Central government. The latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) found that 30.7% of women aged 15-49 years were overweight or obese in 2023-24, compared with 24% in NFHS-5 (2019-21). Among men in the same age group, the proportion rose from 22.9% to 27.3%.

Speaking of the rising incidence of lifestyle-related disorders on fertility and pregnancy, which is prompting greater attention to health before conception, doctors and health practitioners are now increasingly focusing on the period before pregnancy, arguing that identifying and addressing health risks in both prospective parents could improve reproductive and pregnancy outcomes. 

“The concept is not new to Ayurveda. The traditional system has described garbhadana samskara, a pre-conception regimen aimed at preparing prospective parents physically and mentally before conception. The approach is now being offered as a structured programme at the SDM College of Ayurveda and Hospital in Udupi, Karnataka, which has been providing pre-conception counselling and care to couples from different parts of south India,’’ Mamatha K.V., principal and senior obstetrician at the institution, said.

Describing this approach as the “conscious preparation for conception”, Dr. Mamatha said that the process involves assessment of the health of both partners, along with advice on diet, lifestyle, and other factors that may influence reproductive health. Pre-conception consultations can provide an opportunity to identify risks, review medicines, address nutritional deficiencies and encourage healthier lifestyles before pregnancy. 

In Ayurveda, conception is described through four factors — ritu, the appropriate fertile period; kshetra, a healthy reproductive tract; beeja, the healthy sperm and ovum; and ambu, adequate nourishment. “Interventions are tailored around these factors, with dietary and lifestyle changes and, where considered appropriate, traditional therapies,’’ Shreyashri Suvarna, a physician at the hospital, said, adding that traditional interventions need to be individualised and clinically supervised.